ALLENDALE TOWNSHIP — Got an opinion on where Grand Valley State University students should (or shouldn’t) be living around Allendale? Do you think the Town Center idea ought to be revisited?

Township planners are looking for feedback on those and other questions during their yearlong, $35,000 redraft of the area’s 2003 master land use plan, which builders and officials use to guide zoning decisions and the location of township development.

A 7 p.m. public workshop is set for Wednesday at the Township Hall, where attendees will envision what different parts of the township might look like in the next 20 years using photos of Allendale neighborhoods.

An online survey is being promoted, allowing residents to weigh in on pressing issues like traffic speed on Lake Michigan Drive, public transportation availability, the impact of GVSU, crime and ways to maintain the “rural character” of the township.

About 300 people so far have taken the survey — which is also available at the township office in hard copy — said supervisor Jerry Alkema.

“As we write a new plan, do we want the town center?” said Trustee Ken Knoper, liaison to the Planning Commission, referring to the area along M-45 that includes Family Fare, Heritage Town Square and a Metro Health office building.

“There are a few people who’ve said they didn’t like it, but there’s a lot who said they do,” Knoper said. “We have to look at everything.”

“Everything” encompasses questions about whether to plat subdivided housing developments in the agricultural zone, and figure out where high-density student apartment complexes should be located.

Density, location and type of student housing has been a thorny issue in recent years that has embroiled the township in litigation over zoning changes related to new apartments.

Residents will get about two months to review the draft plan when it’s finished next year. Tallmadge Township to the east has also announced its intent to revamp its master plan.
The township Downtown Development Authority is picking up two-thirds of the re-write cost.

Meanwhile, a 7:30 p.m. public hearing has been scheduled for next Monday on the new approval process and standards for planned-unit development zones in Allendale, a rewrite that has been ongoing among planning commissioners.